SHINee – ‘Odd’ Album Review

This post is by guest writer Jara Rowe.

Odd is SHINee‘s fourth Korean studio album that I find oddly satisfying. This album is an experiment gone right. SHINee took chances in mixing different genres from R&B to swing, while not losing their signature dance beats. The boys were also hands-on in the making of this album — Jonghyun wrote lyrics and produced several songs while Key and Minho were credited for writing rap lyrics on the album. Odd proves that SHINee is willing to take risks to grow musically.

Track 1 – Odd Eye

Odd Eye is indeed a mellow odd ball and far from your typical SHINee song. It’s one of the most lyrically suggestive songs that I’ve ever heard from the group — written and composed by Jonghyun. Odd Eye demonstrates SHINee’s maturity as a group through the lyrical content of the song and dance choreography in the live performance.

Track 2 – Love Sick

Love Sick is Replay, SHINee’s debut track, several years later. Replay is a song about SHINee liking a noona and telling her how beautiful she is and Love Sick is where SHINee tells the same girl how pretty she still is after all these years. This groovy R&B song is truly an acknowledgement to SHINee growing up. The live performance of Love Sick even has some of the same choreography as Replay, which brings me into gratifying nostalgia.

Track 3 – View

View is an excellent blend of urban and house music that showcases Jonghyun’s composing abilities. Although the chorus is simple and somewhat repetitive, SHINee is able to spice things up with their vocals and the use of various synth beats throughout. The boys also used a new choreographer to showcase their modern dance moves that matches the feel of the music fantastically.

Track 4 – Romance

Romance has a very catchy beat that I find myself bouncing to, but that’s as far as it goes. This track doesn’t really add much to the album for me. I find it mediocre and doesn’t promote SHINee’s musical progression like the rest of the album does. The vocal ability of SHINee is quite apparent, but the retro tune fails to romance me as I find it rather boring.

Track 5 – Trigger

Trigger is a neo-soul and R&B influenced number. There is a lot happening in the background, from heavy bass and drums, colorful synths, to oriental sound effects and instruments. Yet they’re masterfully mixed together such that I’m not overwhelmed. SHINee’s voices blend well with the extra elements and keeps me coming back for another listen.

Track 6 – 이별의 길 (Farewell My Love)

A soulful, R&B flavored pop ballad describes Farewell My Love perfectly. This song proves that SHINee isn’t only a performance group, but that they are great at conveying emotions through their sorrowful voices as well. Farewell My Love is, vocally, my favorite track.

Track 7 – 너의 노래가 되어 (An Ode to You)

The vocals and melody of An Ode to You are nice and smooth. However, I don’t think this slow tempo acoustic ballad track belongs on Odd because it doesn’t fit the album’s overall vibe. There are plenty of other tracks to show off SHINee’s amazing vocals, which renders An Ode to You‘s and unnecessary appearance for me on this particular album.

Track 8 – Alive

Alive is also a heavily R&B influenced upbeat pop song similar to Trigger. However, it’s more controlled and doesn’t have as much going on in the background. Alive has a slower tempo but is also hard hitting and comes off as a little rough. SHINee is telling a girl about how she makes things come alive while I feel equally alive listening to this melody.

Track 9 – Woof Woof

Woof Woof is a swing pop number that I don’t think fits well with the album either. The big band instruments add interest to the composition, but overall I am left underwhelmed. Most SHINee songs are extremely hard to forget, but Woof Woof turns out to be not very memorable for me.

Track 10 – Black Hole

You can tell it’s SHINee right away from the intro of Black Hole as it’s filled with their signature color. A relaxed tune that still has techno and house elements, Black Hole is a chill song that you’d expected to hear at a roller skating rink.

Track 11 – 재연 An Encore

An Encore is a mid-tempo powerful ballad that lends more towards the grown-up vibe of the album. It particularly shows how great the boys’ harmonies are. An Encore is another testament that SHINee isn’t just a pop music performance group, but great singers who know how to build emotional depth.